Exhaust gas waste heat recovery
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorGregory A. Major
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An exhaust heat recovery heat exchanger assembly for use along a main exhaust flow path of an exhaust system for an engine, and a method of operation, is disclosed. The exhaust heat recovery heat exchanger includes a sealed vacuum chamber, including a hydride pellet mounted in the chamber, and electrical leads extending from the hydride pellet. An exhaust chamber along the main exhaust flow path is located along an inner wall of the vacuum chamber. A housing surrounds the vacuum chamber and defines a heat receiving medium chamber. A heat receiving medium flows through the heat receiving medium chamber and absorbs heat from the exhaust flowing through the exhaust chamber when an electric current is applied to the hydride pellet.
Claims17
An exhaust heat recovery heat exchanger assembly for use along a main exhaust flow path of an exhaust system for a vehicle having an engine, the exhaust heat recovery heat exchanger comprising:
- a sealed vacuum chamber, including an inner wall and an outer wall, a hydride pellet mounted in the chamber, and a heating element operatively engaging the hydride pellet and including electrical leads extending from the vacuum chamber and configured to attach to a source of electrical current;
- an exhaust chamber defined by the inner wall, the exhaust chamber being a portion of the main exhaust flow path;
- a housing surrounding the outer wall and defining a heat receiving medium chamber between the housing and the outer wall, an inlet configured to receive and direct a heat receiving medium into the heat receiving medium chamber, and an outlet configured to receive and direct the heat receiving medium from the heat receiving medium chamber;
- and
- a thermoelectric device located between the outer wall and the heat receiving medium chamber and oriented to generate electricity when heat is transferred from the vacuum chamber to the heat receiving medium chamber.
A vehicle comprising:
- an engine;
- an engine exhaust system operatively engaging the engine to direct exhaust gasses away from the engine along a main exhaust flow path, the engine exhaust system including an intermediate pipe configured to direct exhaust gasses along the main flow path;
- an exhaust heat recovery heat exchanger having a sealed vacuum chamber, including an inner wall and an outer wall, a hydride pellet mounted in the chamber, and a heating element operatively engaging the hydride pellet and including electrical leads extending from the vacuum chamber;
- an exhaust chamber within the inner wall that forms a portion of the main exhaust flow path;
- a housing surrounding the outer wall and defining a heat receiving medium chamber between the housing and the outer wall, an inlet configured to receive and direct a heat receiving medium into the heat receiving medium chamber, and an outlet configured to receive and direct the heat receiving medium from the heat receiving medium chamber;
- and
- a conduit connected between the outlet and a turbine to thereby direct the heat receiving medium to the turbine, with the turbine being drivingly connected to a generator.
A method of selectively absorbing waste heat from exhaust gasses flowing through a main flow path of an exhaust system for a vehicle having an engine, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) operating the engine, thereby causing exhaust gasses to flow through an exhaust chamber along the main flow path;
- (b) flowing a heat receiving medium through a heat receiving chamber surrounding the exhaust chamber;
- (c) providing a sealed vacuum chamber between the heat receiving chamber and the exhaust chamber;
- (d) determining if heat transfer from the exhaust gasses to the heat receiving medium is desired;
- (e) applying an electric current to a heating element operatively engaging a hydride pellet in the vacuum chamber to thereby release hydrogen in the vacuum chamber when it is determined that heat transfer from the exhaust gasses to the heat receiving medium is desired;
- and
- (f) providing a thermoelectric device between the sealed vacuum chamber and the heat receiving chamber;
- and
- (g) applying an electric current to the heating element operatively engaging a hydride pellet in the vacuum chamber to thereby release hydrogen in the vacuum chamber when it is determined that electricity generation from the thermoelectric device is desired.
A waste heat recovery heat exchanger for use along a heated fluid flow path directed from an assembly that produces a heated fluid with waste heat, the waste heat recovery heat exchanger comprising:
- a sealed vacuum chamber, including an inner wall and an outer wall, a hydride pellet mounted in the chamber, and a heating element operatively engaging the hydride pellet and including electrical leads extending from the vacuum chamber and configured to attach to a source of electrical current;
- a heated fluid chamber defined by the inner wall, the heated fluid chamber being a portion of the heated fluid flow path;
- a housing surrounding the outer wall and defining a heat receiving medium chamber between the housing and the outer wall, an inlet configured to receive and direct a heat receiving fluid into the heat receiving medium chamber, and an outlet configured to receive and direct the heat receiving fluid from the heat receiving medium chamber;
- and
- a conduit connected between the outlet and a turbine to thereby direct the heat receiving medium to the turbine, with the turbine being drivingly connected to a generator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.